Manually-supported mortar



Jan. 20, 1931. L. M. M BRIDE 0 MANUALLY SUPPORTED MORTAR Original Filed May 10, 192

A TTORNEY.

Patented 20, 1931 PATENT ()FFICE IiEWIS M. MCBRIDE, OF EDGEWOOD, MARYLAND MANUALLY-SUPPORTED MORTAR Application filed May 10,1927. Serial No. 190,270.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT- OF MARCH 3, 1888, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for Government purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates in general to a muzzle loading projectile discharging piece and projectile and more particularly has reference to a manually supported mortar adapted to be operated by a single combatant.

Previous to this time weapons of this character during operation have generally been firmly emplaced. on permanent base plates and supported on standard structures, requiring the services of a number of personnel for transport and operation. While such pieces are efficient for customary usage, the

limitations imposed by the mounting and weight have prevented ready adaptability to changing conditions where portability and mobility are the prime factors.

Because of these disadvantages, the weapons of this type heretofore employed have been found wanting under such circumstances as the advance or retreat of troops, riots, mob

control and the like, where strategic points are seldom available and the positions afforded are generally inaccessible for the mortars now in use or unsuitable for hand thrown projectiles of various types, such as grenades.

The mortars heretofore have not attained suflicient rapidity of loading to meet with certain demands where a heavy concentration- Still another object of this invention is to provide a mortar that may be loaded with the utmost rapidity.

Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a mortar that may be adjusted with the maximum facility.

A further object of this invention is to provide a projectile adapted to allow a mortar to be operated for long periods without cessation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mortar that may be transported, emplaced and operated by a single combatant.

\Vith these and other objects in view which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be-hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention, may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearing drawings, means for carrying the same 'into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mortar showing the mode of support;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation fragmentary view showing the base plate in section and mode of adustment;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly sectional view of the projectile showing means for retaining the cartridge in the tail;

Fig. 4 is atop view of the base plate.

Referring by -numerals to the drawings wherein similar elementsare designated by like symbols of reference throughout, and

a reduced extension 2. The breech of the barrel is sealed by a base cap 3 secured thereon in any suitable manner or cast integral therewith if so desired. The base cap 3 is formed with a seat- 4 designed to serve as a base to seat a firing pin 5 machined on the end to form a striking point 6. The firing pin 5 may be fixed in the seat 4 in an desirable manner or may be cast integral t erewith if so desired.

The cap 3 is formed with a convex bottom 7, as shown in Figure 2, and provided with a circumferential knurled portion 8 adapted to facilitate attachment to the barrel 1 if not cast integral therewith.

On the breech end of the barrel 1 is provided a collar 9 adapted to form a circumferential channel 10 with the rim of the base cap 3. The circumferential channel 10 is adapted to receive a swivel band 11 intended for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

The reduced extension 2 has telescoped over the muzzle an extension 20 having a cutaway portion 12 adapted to form a loading lip. The loading lip may be either attached to the end of the barrel as shown or formed integral therewith according to the practice of the individual designer or to conform with the particular re uirements. A projectile is adapted to be lai on the cutaway portion 12 of the lip and automatically centered with the utmost rapidity, to fall in the barrel by the force of gravity.

It is manifest that the lip 12 is an invaluable attachment for any type of muzzle loading piece and may be constructed to be readily adaptable to various barrels.

Slightly below the muzzle of the reduced extension 2 is provided a collar 13, adapted to act as a stop for the loading lip 12, and a hand slide 15. The hand slide 15 is telescoped on the barrel and is perforated as at 16 to lower the heat conductivity. The slide may be provided with any suitable insulating material if so desired. A collar 14 is provided midway on the reduced extension 2 to act as a stop for the opposite end of the hand slide 15. The hand slide 15 is adapted to slide upon the reduced extension 2 within the limits allowed by the collars 13 and 14.

A swivel band 17, similar to the swivel band 11, is adapted to fit against the collar 13. The swivels 11 and 17 are adapted to afford anchoring means for a sling 18 constructed of leather or any other suitable material and ada ted to be extended or retracted thru a uckle 19 in the usual manner. The sling 18 is designed to afford means for readily transporting the mortar by a single combatant in a similar manner to that afiorded by a like attachment on service rifles.

The mortar is adapted to be emplaced on a base plate 21 having a concave indented portion 22 adapted to receive the convex ortion on the base cap 3. The rear end 0 the base plate 21 is provided with an angular flange 23 and the front end tapered to a point 24. The flange 23 is adapted to grip the terrain and the point 24 to afiord secure emplacement as shown in Figure 2. The plate 1 is adapted to be thrust into the ground, the point 24 foremost, at an angle of approximately 45 degrees varying according to the particular requirements. The convex base 7 of the mortar is designed to be seated in the concave indentation 22 in the base plate 21, allowing the barrel to be elevated over 40' degrees and traversed through 80 degrees without adjustment of the base seat. The barrel is adapted to be supported by the hand of the operator, as shown in Fig. 1, clasped about the hand slide 15. This mayslide within the limits allowed by'the collars 13 and 14 as previously described to prevent the effects of recoil in firing being transmitted to the operator.

There is shown in Figure 3 a projectile adapted to be employed in the mortar, to allow extended periods of operation without cessation. The projectile comprises a body portion 25 having mounted on the forward end a conventional fuse'26 seated in a base 27. On the rear end of the projectile is formed a cartridge container 28 provided with flash holes 29. The. container 28 is adaptedto receive and seat a conventional cartridge 31 having the usual cap 32. The cartridge container 18 is provided with an internal circumferential groove 30 adapted to act as a locking groove for the cartridge when exploded upon firing to prevent the spent cartridge from falling out of the container and clogging the breech of the mortar.

The operation of this invention may be readily understood having reference to Figure 1. The loading lip 12 on the barrel of, the mortar is adapted to automatically cen-' ter the projectile and does not require particular technique of loading ,on the part of the operator, nor a steady hand.

The barrel is adapted to be supported manually by grasping the hand slide 15. The

mortar is designed to rest on the portable unattached base plate 21 allowing an immediate and extensive change in elevation or azimuth without resetting. A mode of trans port is afi'orded by the sling 18 in.the same manner as an ordinary service rifle.

The priming cartridge 31 is automatically secured in the container on the tail of the projectile on firing by expanding in the internal circumferential groove 30. This prevents the cartridges being blown out in the barrel causing the operation to be stopped at numerous intervals to remov such refuse. The projectile, with the propellant charge and primer secured to the container on the base, is dropped onto the loading lip on the hand'by a single combatant, that may be muzzle and adapted to slide down the barrel until the primer strikes the firing pin mounted on the base cap in the mortar. This causes the primer to detonate or ignite the propellant charge, the gases of which pass through the flash holes 29, and'eject the shell, the only limit to the rapidit of fire being the time taken by gravity to re the projectile and the interval of discharge. 1

There is provided by, this invention a manually supported muzzle loading projectile discharging piece adapted to be operated by readily transported and easily emplaced, loaded with the utmost rapidity and easily adjusted over wide ranges adapted to be operated for long periods of time without cessation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by Way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mortar comprising a barrel, means rigidly connected to the muzzle of the barrel to center a projectile, and means mounted on the barrel and movable with respect thereto,

.to support the barrel manually.

2. A mortar comprising a barrel, a member mounted on the barrel and movable with respect thereto to allow manual support thereof, a. member rigidly fixed on the muzzle of the barrel .and forming a continuation thereof to center a projectile, and an unattached member for engagement with the butt of the barrel to allow elevating and traversing of the mortar.

3. A mortar comprising a barrel having I shoulders a member adapted to slide between the shoulders and a concave member adapted to receive the butt of the barrel.

4. A mortar comprising a barrel having shoulders, a coaxial sleeve adapted to slide on the barrel between the shoulders, a con-v cave base plate adapted to receive the butt, and a lip on the muzzleof the barrel.

5. A mortar comprising a barrel having a reduced extension forming a shoulder, a lip on the. muzzle of the barrel forming another port the mortar.

having a concave indentation adapted to re; ceive the convex butt, and means 7 A mortar comprising a manual support slidably mounted on the barrel, the manual shoulder, a sleeve adapted to slide on the barrel between the shoulders formed by the reduced extension and the lip, and a base plate having a concave indentationadapted to receive the buttof the barrel.

6. A mortar comprising a barrel having a co vex butt, shoulders formed bya reduced extension on the butt and a centering lip on the muzzle of the barrel, a sleeve having a plurality of apertures adapted to slide on the barrel between the shoulders, a base plate to. trans-' 

